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62nd out of 109 books
—
92 voters
Ugly Fish
by
Kara LaReau (Goodreads Author),
Scott Magoon (Goodreads Author)
Ugly Fish is ugly and big and mean, and he won't share his driftwood tunnel or his special briny flakes with anyone. And that means the wimpy little fish who keep showing up in his tank have got to go. But then one day someone bigger and uglier and maybe even meaner arrives . . . and suddenly Ugly Fish isn't feeling quite so confident anymore.
From Kara LaReau, author of th...more
From Kara LaReau, author of th...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
June 1st 2006
by Harcourt Children's Books
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Week 5
Ugly Fish lives all alone in a tank...it's just the way he likes it. One day, one at a time, new fish are added to the tank. Ugly FIsh shows them around, lets them glide in and out of the driftwood tunnel, lets them taste-test the special briny flakes, and then...HE EATS THEM! Bored with no friends to swim with, he wishes he hadn't ate his tank-mates. Ugly Fish gets what he wishes for, but his new roommate is not used to sharing a tank.
"Ugly Fish" is appropriate for ages 4+ (Grades PreK+)...more
Ugly Fish lives all alone in a tank...it's just the way he likes it. One day, one at a time, new fish are added to the tank. Ugly FIsh shows them around, lets them glide in and out of the driftwood tunnel, lets them taste-test the special briny flakes, and then...HE EATS THEM! Bored with no friends to swim with, he wishes he hadn't ate his tank-mates. Ugly Fish gets what he wishes for, but his new roommate is not used to sharing a tank.
"Ugly Fish" is appropriate for ages 4+ (Grades PreK+)...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Great illustrations, and a cautionary tale everyone sometimes needs to be reminded of, regardless of their age: If you act like a jerk, someone is going to settle your hash sooner or later.
Now rest assured, Ms Lareau does not use language like 'jerk' anywhere in this book. Instead it is about a pretty but greedy fish who did not want to share his home, despite repeated attempts to provide him with friends. When he finally comes around to the idea that it might be nice to have some company, his...more
Now rest assured, Ms Lareau does not use language like 'jerk' anywhere in this book. Instead it is about a pretty but greedy fish who did not want to share his home, despite repeated attempts to provide him with friends. When he finally comes around to the idea that it might be nice to have some company, his...more
I picked up Ugly Fish at my local library last week based purely on the cover. Ugly Fish stared at my defiantly as if daring me to read him. Not one to be cowed by a mere illustration, I took the book home with me.
Ugly Fish lives in a very nice fish tank all by himself. He has a driftwood tunnel and is fed special fish flakes. Life is great until, one day, a new fish arrives. The new fish wants to be friends with Ugly Fish but Ugly Fish doesn't want to share his tank with anyone. So what does U...more
Ugly Fish lives in a very nice fish tank all by himself. He has a driftwood tunnel and is fed special fish flakes. Life is great until, one day, a new fish arrives. The new fish wants to be friends with Ugly Fish but Ugly Fish doesn't want to share his tank with anyone. So what does U...more
Ugly Fish likes his fish tank the way it is. He has his own driftwood tunnel and enjoyed eating his special fish flakes all by himself. One day a new fish shows up and introduces itself. Ugly fish has no need for this new fish. So he chases the new fish around the tank and then eats him. He does this to 4 more fish and is finally free from new fish in his tank. After awhile, Ugly Fish gets bored with his driftwood tunnel and his special flakes aren't special anymore without someone to share them...more
Loved the pictures, good moral, entertaining story. The kids laughed a few times, and enjoyed the anticipation of discovering what lesson Ugly Fish was going to learn. I enjoyed that this was a book aimed at bullies instead of a book aimed at those who are bullied. Bullying requires a victim and an aggressor, and it's a problem that needs to be addressed from both angles. This book takes a look at the aggressive side of the equation in a way that is engaging, probably subtle for many kids, and i...more
Ugly Fish is the RULER of his tank and he likes having things his own way. He likes having his flakes each day, and he likes swimming around, but what he doesn't like is sharing any of those things with other fish.
When they enter the tank, with their friendly smiles and happy attitudes he has a very special way of dealing with them.
He EATS THEM!
Ugly Fish is content to live his solitary life until one day, he has a change of heart, and wouldn't you know it, in comes Smiley Fish...a much larger an...more
When they enter the tank, with their friendly smiles and happy attitudes he has a very special way of dealing with them.
He EATS THEM!
Ugly Fish is content to live his solitary life until one day, he has a change of heart, and wouldn't you know it, in comes Smiley Fish...a much larger an...more
Ugly Fish is a gentle introduction to the issues of bullying. Ugly Fish is big and bad and mean and does NOT want to share his tank with any new friends. After eating all of his new companions, Ugly Fish is lonely until Shiny Fish comes along. As it turns out, being a bully is not as fun as he thought it would be.
While I did not like the ending, I thought that the names of each fish (based on what bullies call their victims) were cute, and that the parallelism between pages made the story flow...more
While I did not like the ending, I thought that the names of each fish (based on what bullies call their victims) were cute, and that the parallelism between pages made the story flow...more
Genre: Traditional
Copyright: 2006
"Ugly Fish" is a story about well, an ugly fish! Ugly Fish is the king of his domain, in fact he is the only one in his domain until one day he is visited by a new fish, a new fish that ugly fish doesn't necessarily care for.
I loved the illustrations in this book. They are simple, yet very comical! This story had a great moral to it, and I couldn't help but think of Karma when reading this! I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast easy read, who loves fun an...more
Copyright: 2006
"Ugly Fish" is a story about well, an ugly fish! Ugly Fish is the king of his domain, in fact he is the only one in his domain until one day he is visited by a new fish, a new fish that ugly fish doesn't necessarily care for.
I loved the illustrations in this book. They are simple, yet very comical! This story had a great moral to it, and I couldn't help but think of Karma when reading this! I recommend this to anyone looking for a fast easy read, who loves fun an...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love this book. I have read it to children, adults, and college students, varying the message to fit the discussion. For children, there are powerful messages about bullying. For adults, there are messages about workplace politics, and how one should conduct themselves. For college students, I used this book when I taught creative writing and also when I taught a Psychology class. My own children love this book, and can relate on a simple humorous note. It is one to own, not borrow.
1 like · like · see review
Aug 10, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
read-childrens-books,
read-goodreads-authors
I liked this story but, oddly, I never caught on that it was a story about bullying until I read the author information on the back flap of the dust jacket. I just thought it was a story about how the tables can be turned on mean and self-centered people, and how those who are mean to others can be the victims of meanness in turn. I think what disconnected the bullying idea from the story for me was the fact that Ugly Fish ate his tank-mates. A bully doesn't generally destroy others; he wants th...more
I thought this book was interesting. It shows that being mean to others will bring you nothing but loneliness. It warns that if you are mean to others eventually someone bigger and meaner will come along and treat you just the same. This teaches children the "golden rule" treat others the way you want to be treated. I thought it was a silly book but gave a good point at the end when the ugly fish got eaten.
Six and four year old love this one. though to be honest I think the fact that they own a fish tank made them the think the moral of the story was, "Of COURSE you don't put fish with big mouths into the same tank as littler fish!!" rather than an anti-bullying/you get what's coming to you message that was obviously intended. ;) great illustrations and a fun read aloud to make different voices for each fish.
1 like · like · see review
Ugly Fish, bored and set in his ways, needs to learn to share his aquarium with a succession of annoying and obsequious imports, but nothing about that set-up prepares you for the ensuing Darwinism - or maybe it does, and we’re just out of practice. If you think your children are likely to pattern their behavior after a warty, talking fish, then you definitely shouldn't order this book. Otherwise: Enjoy!
Sep 13, 2010
Briana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fish lovers and those in tune with reality.
Recommended to Briana by:
Sarah Weaver =)
The illustrations are quite comical XD I love how ugly fish's chin sticks out! Well, fish don't have chins; but whatever. Funny and sad. Life is not always fair and sometimes what goes around comes around. Pretty good lessons for children to learn early...rather than being brainwashed into believing life is all magic, handsome princes, and stunning outfits. **steps down from the soapbox** Thank you for the recommendation Say-rah!!! <3
Ugly Fish sees new additions to his tank as nothing more than a mere tasty snack...but, as his need for dominance in the tank diminishes, he grows lonely without some other fish to wander in and out of his driftwood tunnel, swim in his huge tank, and eat delicious briny flakes. Teensy fish, kissy fish, spotty fish and stripy fish all try to be his friends, but all ugly fish does is tease and bully them until, alas, they are no more. Until one day, ugly fish gets a taste of his own medicine and t...more
This would be a great book for a student to read. It is simple but has a great point, you reap what you sow. This would be a good book to share with a class that is having issues with being nice to others. It would even be fun to have the bully of the class read this book out loud, or would that be to forward??
Dr. McCracken's read aloud performance of this book made me love this book instantly. It is an entertaining story that will leave kids laughing and anticipating what comes next. The moral of the story is something that should be discussed after reading because students will have a varied natural response. The illustrations were great and engaging.
Ugly fish portrays a story of a selfish fish who enjoys things being all to himself until he realizes how lonely he is. After eating multiple friendly fish, he is faced with a bigger, meaner, hungrier fish who, in the end, plays Ugly fish's own game. The book ends with Ugly Fish dying and a lesson learned about consequences.
A cute book about a big ugly fish who rules his tank with terror. He doesn't want to share his tank with anyone. One day a new fish appeared and Ugly Fish chased him and ate him. Then another fish was added and he chased her and ate her. Each time Ugly fish got rid of a visitor he became meaner and meaner. Eventually, he got tired of eating his briny flakes, a swimming through his driftwood and thought "If only I hadn't eaten them". Then a new fish appeared. This one was bigger and meaner than U...more
Many big ideas can be correlated with this book. Teachers can approach many things in the classroom like bullying, being happy with what you have, or consequences, through this book. It is a great book that all students will be able to relate to...
That aquarium owner must have been a sadist!
Older kids and adults will laugh, but parents of especially sensitive kids will want to be aware that the whole running gag is of fish eating each other, and not all kids will find this mirthful.
Older kids and adults will laugh, but parents of especially sensitive kids will want to be aware that the whole running gag is of fish eating each other, and not all kids will find this mirthful.
c. 2006 genre
I thought this was a simple fantastic book to provide a catalyst for discussion about bullying. i thought the analgy of the big fish/ little pond was great. it can be a little scary for the younger crowd.
I thought this was a simple fantastic book to provide a catalyst for discussion about bullying. i thought the analgy of the big fish/ little pond was great. it can be a little scary for the younger crowd.
Ugly fish keeps eating the new fish added to his tank. Then, no new fish are added for a while and he becomes lonely. One day, a new (much bigger) Shiny Fish appears and Ugly Fish has a new friend....or does he?
This book was being fought over by one of my blocks of fifth graders. They thought it was a joke, but if you read the text carefully, the book is about bullying. This particular class has issues with that topic.
Oh, this is one of those books where the characters are just awful and you love it! It was repetitive and simple enough for my short attention span guy, and we got a discussion of karma out of it.
There is more death in this book than just about any kids book I can remember encountering. It's pretty funny though, as far as fish killing each other goes. Very nice art and character design.
Weird story but it might be a great book for older kids. I did not get the message of a bully that finally sees that it is not always good to"eat the other fish" cool illustrations though
This is a classic story about wanting something else and not sharing. I love this book, the illustration's are the best and just a clever fun story for kids of all ages!!!!
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Kara LaReau was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and later worked as an editor at Candlewick Press and Scholastic Press. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband and their two cats.
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Mar 02, 2012 09:21pm